Improvement in galvanic batteries



C. F. BRUSH.

GApvANIc BATTERY. No. 185,288. Patented De.1z,1e7e.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 848%@ fl @8v/4% f] ,fwzgg.

ATTOR T MGE CHARLES FIBRUSH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFHIS RIGHTTO THE TELEGRAPH SUPPLY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GALVANlC BATTERIES..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,28, dated December12, 1876; application filed August 28, 1876.

To all whom 'it may concern .Be it known that I, CHARLEs F. BRUSH, ofCleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ot' Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Galvanic Batteries; and I dohereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact descriptionot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make land use it, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

lily invention relates toan improved galvanic battery, in which thenegative element is surrounded by the oxychloride of lead.

In the ordinary sulphate-oicopper or gravity battery, especially whennot in action, the

sulphate-of-copper solution gradually diffuses itself through the zincsolution, even when the latter is protected by a porous cell, andattacks the Zinc plate, forming a deposit of metallic copper thereon.Thus the copper soiution is rapidly wasted, and a disastrous localaction7 induced.

I overcome this diiculty by substituting, for the sulphate of copper insuch batteries, the oxychloride of lead, and for the copper plate aplate of lead, although other metals or carbon may be used. The leadcompound, being at best but very slightly soluble in the liquid employedto excite the battery, cannot diffuse and attack the zinc element,however long the battery may remain idle.

In forming the battery, a lead plate, or, preferably, a ribbon of sheet-lead loosely rolled up, is placed in the bottom of a glass or othersuitable jar or vessel, and embedded in a sufficient quantity of theoxychloride. The zinc element, which may be of any convenient shape, issuspended in the upper part of thejar, in the manner customary ingravity-batteries.77

The Zinc should be amalgamated, but may be used without, if necessary.The jar is finally filled with a dilute solution of chloride or sulphateof zinc, or other saline solution, but, preferably, with a weak solutionof chloride of sodium or ammonia.

YVhen the battery is in action, metallic lead is reduced from theoxychloride, and forms a spongy crystalline deposit on the lead plate.The free chlorine from the oxychloride unites with the free hydrogen andforms hydrochloric acid. The oxygen of the oxychloride unites, also,with a portion of the free hydrogen, and forms water. The hydrochloricacid does not remain in solution, but at once attacks the zinc element,forming chloride of zmc.

When chloride of sodium is used as the primary exciting liquid inconnection with the oxychloride of lead, some oxychloride of zinc isalso formed, but does not interfere with the action of the battery butwhen chloride ot' ammonium is used, the oxide of lead contained in theoxychloride is reduced to the metallic state, as before, chloride ofzinc and free ammonia being formed, but no oxychloride of zinc.

In the drawing is shown a vertical transverse section of a battery-cellconstructed according to my invention. A is the outer cell; B, the leadplate or ribbon attached to an insulated wire, C, which forms one of thepoles of the battery. The zinc element D may be ot` any convenient form,and is suspended in the upper part of thejar or cell, as shown. Erepresents the oxychloride otl lead embedding the lead element B.

Wlhen the battery is to be used, the cell is filled with the excitingliquid to such extent as to cover the zinc element. rllhe battery-jarmay be covered to prevent evaporation, il' desired.

I am aware that chloride ot' 'lead has been employed in the place whereI employ oxychlOride; but I have found by experiment I that theoxychloride is preferable in many ways. It is much cheaper, more easilyattainable than chloride, vand acts doublythat is, the oxygen of theoxychloride serves to unite with the free hydrogen and forms wa ter,While the chlorine also unites with the free hydrogen and formshydrochloric acid, thus acting with double certainty as a depolarizer.The hydrochloric acid at once attacks thezinc element andforins'chloride of zinc, leaving the solution free of hydrochloric acid.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A galvanic battery in which oxychloride 0f lead is used as adepolarzing or hydrogenabsorbing agent. substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. In a galvanic battery, the combination of the lead element B, or itsequivalent, with oxychloride of lead, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3.` In a galvanic battery, thelead element B, or its equivalent. andoxychloride of lead, in

combination with the zinc element D, and a solution of chloride ofsodium or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to` this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHARLES F. BRUSH. Witnesses:

FRANCIS TOUMEY, JAMES P. WALSH.

